How to Get to Miami and Miami Beach from Fort Lauderdale

Miami's McArthur Causeway

By: Kara Franker

Here are the best ways to get from the Fort Lauderdale airport to Miami.

Traveling between Fort Lauderdale and Miami is now easier than ever. If you fly into the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, there are several transportation options you can choose from. Here’s what you need to know if you opt for public transportation.

How to Take the Train

Tri-Rail is a commuter train service that runs from Miami all the way up to Palm Beach County, with multiple stops along the route, including both the Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports.

When you arrive to the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, you’ll want to exit on the ground level and walk to the bus stop (there are three: adjacent to Terminal 1, between Terminals 2 and 3, or at the end of Terminal 4). Then hop on the free Tri-Rail Shuttle which will take you to the Tri-Rail station (500 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, FL 33004).

At the Tri-Rail station, you can purchase your train ticket at kiosks, which are open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Fares are calculated depending on how many “zones” you travel through. In general, you can expect to pay around $3.75 per person for a one way ticket from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport Station at Dania Beach to the Miami International Airport station.

How to Get to Miami and Miami Beach from the Miami Intermodal Center

Once you’ve arrived at the Tri-Rail Miami Airport Station, you’ll be at what’s called the Miami Intermodal Center (a fancy name for our new transportation hub). The Center offers multiple transportation options to the airport and beyond, including rental cars, intercity and local bus services, as well as commuter, heavy-rail and long-distance trains. Even though the center isn’t technically part of the airport (it’s a development by the Florida Department of Transportation), it is designed to shuttle travelers to and from the airport through an automated train called the MIA Mover.

Once you’re at the Miami Intermodal Center, you can transfer to Metrorail (Miami’s above ground rail) to a number of locations throughout the city. You can take the Metrorail Orange Line ($2.25 per person, per trip) to either the Government Center stop in Downtown (where you can then transfer to the free Metromover) or the Brickell stop. Read more about taking public transportation in Miami.

If you want to go out to Miami Beach, Miami-Dade Transit’s Airport Flyer offers daily express bus service from Miami International Airport. Buses run every 30 minutes, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. For $2.35 each way, you can ride aboard a 40-foot bus equipped with luggage racks and comfortable seating.